Abstract Detail

Hemiepiphytic fig trees are significant components in tropical rain forests, and they have been hypothesized to differ from terrestrial fig trees in adaptations relating to stoichiometric traits. However, little information is available on the dynamics of eco-stoichiometry of hemiepiphytic fig from epiphytic to terrestrial stages. In this study, hemiepiphytic and terrestrial Ficus. tinctoria in different growth stages (seedling, juvenile, adult and independent) were investigated in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan, SW China. The results showed that P was deficient from juvenile to adult stage of the hemiepiphytic fig, in which P content was 28.80% and 18.88% lower than that of terrestrial plants, respectively. However, there was no difference in P content between hemiepiphytic and terrestrial plants after it strangled its host. Leaf C:P and N:P were significantly higher in hemiepiphytic fig than that of terrestrial plants from juvenile to adult stage but there was no significant difference in seedling and independent stage. Photosynthetic P use eﬃciency (PPUE) and photosynthetic N use eﬃciency (PNUE) of hemiepiphytic plant differed significantly from terrestrial plant, especially in juvenile and adult stage. In general, substrate of adult plants had higher ratios of C:P and N:P than that of seedling plants. Moreover, C, N and P contents were higher in hemiepiphytic substrates than that of terrestrial habitat. Furthermore, hemiepiphytic fig can enhance the PPUE and adjust the P allocation in leaves to adapt environment. The principal component analysis and the plasticity of hemiepiphytic fig showed that the stoichiometric traits related to light acclimation and nutrient strategies. These results indicated that hemiepiphytic fig was P limited in juvenile and adult stage and P could be an important factor affecting hemiepiphytic fig to strangle its host. The dynamics of eco-stoichiometry to cope with habitat changes is likely the key feature enabling hemiepiphytic fig to successfully establish in tropical rainforests.